1. Overview
Julio Iglesias Puga was a Spanish gynecologist, widely known as the father of the internationally acclaimed singer Julio Iglesias and grandfather to singers Enrique Iglesias and Julio Iglesias Jr., as well as socialite Chabeli Iglesias. Born in 1915, he pursued a distinguished medical career, co-founding the Madrid Maternity Clinic and heading its sterility and family planning unit. Beyond medicine, he engaged in academic pursuits, served as a legal history critic, and had a brief political career. His life garnered significant public attention, particularly after his kidnapping by the Basque separatist organization ETA in 1981 and his decision to start a new family at an advanced age, which sparked considerable media and societal discussion until his death in 2005.
2. Early Life and Education
Julio Iglesias Puga's early life was marked by his birth in Ourense, Spain, and a comprehensive education that laid the foundation for his diverse professional career.
2.1. Birth and Family Background
Julio Iglesias Puga was born on July 25, 1915, in Ourense, Spain. Throughout his life, he was affectionately known by the nickname PapuchiDaddySpanish, a term that became widely recognized in the Spanish-speaking media due to his public profile.
2.2. Education and Academic Qualifications
Iglesias Puga pursued extensive academic studies at the Complutense University of Madrid, achieving multiple degrees. He earned his medical degree in 1940, followed by a master's degree in law in 1942. He continued his medical studies, obtaining a master's degree in medicine in 1944, and ultimately completed his academic journey by earning a PhD in medicine in 1948.
3. Medical Career
Julio Iglesias Puga dedicated a significant portion of his professional life to the field of gynecology, making notable contributions to maternity care in Spain.
3.1. Founding and Leadership in Maternity Care
He played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Madrid Maternity Clinic, where he also served as the head of its specialized unit focusing on sterility, infertility, and family planning. His work in this area was instrumental in addressing critical aspects of reproductive health and family welfare.
4. Other Professional Pursuits
Beyond his primary medical practice, Julio Iglesias Puga engaged in a variety of academic, literary, and political endeavors, showcasing his broad intellectual interests and public engagement.
4.1. Academic and Professorial Roles
Iglesias Puga held positions as an adjunct professor at medical schools in prominent Spanish cities. He taught at the Complutense University of Madrid and the University of Barcelona, contributing to the education of future medical professionals.
4.2. Literary and Critical Commentary
He was also recognized as a writer and commentator. In 1951, he began his career as a legal history critic, offering insights and analyses on historical and social issues through his writings.
4.3. Political Career
At one point in his life, Julio Iglesias Puga also ventured into the political arena, serving as a politician. Details of his political tenure are less prominent than his medical and personal life but indicate a period of public service.
5. Spanish Civil War Service
During the Spanish Civil War, Julio Iglesias Puga participated as a soldier. He fought on the side of the Nationalists, the faction led by General Franco.
6. Major Life Events
Julio Iglesias Puga's life was marked by several significant events that garnered considerable public and media attention, most notably his kidnapping.
6.1. ETA Kidnapping
In December 1981, Julio Iglesias Puga was kidnapped by ETA, a Basque separatist organization. He was held captive for approximately two weeks, though some reports indicate a shorter period of six days. His ordeal concluded when he was successfully rescued by a police anti-terrorism unit, an event that brought him significant public sympathy and media coverage.
7. Personal Life and Family
Julio Iglesias Puga's personal life was characterized by two marriages and the raising of children across different stages of his life, which often drew public interest due to his famous family.
7.1. First Marriage and Children
In 1943, Julio Iglesias Puga married María del Rosario de la Cueva y Perignat. Together, they had two sons, Julio Iglesias and Carlos Iglesias. Their marriage concluded in 1983 with a divorce.
7.2. Second Marriage and Later Family
In the early 1990s, Julio Iglesias Puga met Ronna Keith, a US citizen. The couple married in 2001 in a private ceremony attended by close family and select photographers from a magazine. On May 18, 2004, Ronna Keith gave birth to their son, Jaime Iglesias, when Julio Iglesias Puga was 88 years old and Ronna was 40. This event highlighted the significant age difference between Jaime and his half-siblings: his half-brother, Julio Iglesias, was 60 at the time, while his half-nephews, Julio Iglesias Jr. and Enrique Iglesias, were 31 and 29 respectively, and his half-niece, Chabeli Iglesias, was 32.
Iglesias Puga publicly addressed suggestions that Ronna was the sole driving force behind their decision to have a child. He asserted, "At my age, a child is marvellous... I felt just like Abraham". He further stated, "If people say I just did it for my wife, I don't take it as an insult, but the truth is I wanted to do it just as much as she did... My wife wanted to do it and we did it... It was an act of generosity towards her. I leave her part of my blood, of my life. I need her so much that I said to her, 'Here, this is what you wanted for when I am gone.'" Shortly after Jaime's birth, Ronna underwent fertility treatment, leading to speculation that IVF was used for their second child. His fourth child and only daughter, Ruth Iglesias, was born posthumously on July 26, 2006, seven months after his death.
8. Death
Julio Iglesias Puga passed away in Madrid on the morning of December 19, 2005, at the age of 90. His death occurred seven months before the birth of his daughter, Ruth Iglesias.
9. Legacy and Public Perception
Julio Iglesias Puga's legacy is largely intertwined with his famous family, but also shaped by his distinct public persona and the societal discussions prompted by his personal choices.
9.1. Public Image and Media Presence
Julio Iglesias Puga became a familiar figure in gossip magazines, often engaging readily with journalists and sharing information about his famous children and grandchildren. To distinguish him from his son and grandson, these publications consistently referred to him by his professional title and surnames, Doctor Iglesias Puga. This media presence cultivated a public image of an approachable and candid patriarch.
9.2. Influence Through Descendants
His most significant influence on culture and society came indirectly through the careers of his children and grandchildren. As the father of legendary singer Julio Iglesias and the grandfather of global music stars Enrique Iglesias and Julio Iglesias Jr., as well as socialite Chabeli Iglesias, he was consistently in the public eye. His familial connections ensured his continued relevance in the media and public discourse, often serving as a conduit for information about his renowned descendants.
9.3. Societal Impact and Criticisms
Julio Iglesias Puga's decision to have children at an advanced age, particularly the birth of his son Jaime when he was 88, generated considerable public discussion and media attention. While he framed his choices as a mutual desire with his wife and an "act of generosity," these events prompted broader societal conversations regarding later-life family planning, age, and the dynamics of modern families. His personal decisions, particularly in the context of his public profile, contributed to a dialogue about evolving social norms and expectations surrounding parenthood.